A Night of Roses

The session opens with Marik going to see his mother and grandfather. Marik asks Sharn about drowning as a child. Sharn admits that he fell into the water once but his grandfather Garen saved him. She tells Marik she is proud of what he has accomplished so far, but asks him to not speak of the incident to Garen, saying that it is a sore spot for him. Marik asks Garen to make sure that should any word of civil war between the heirs come up, that he reassure the people that House Veltaris has no desire to fight unless Ederia is truly in danger.

Edwinn soon brings his siblings into a room and confides in them the truth of what he was doing in the Dregs and how he knew the man that tried to kill him yesterday. He also admits to buying truth serum (illegal in Ederia) and still holding onto it. After a discussion, Edwinn agrees to get rid of it, fearing that it would make him seem more suspicious with his upcoming accusation of Davian.

That night, Talon, The High King of the Nornathi, Astrid, and the King's Hand all gather. Edwinn reveals the truth that David is the one threatening their lives. Talon is furious, unable to understand why Edwinn would want to wait and let indecision rule him. Astrid is furious over the lies, feeling that she could have helped. The High King gives Edwinn one month to see Davian brought to justice, or else his hunters will hunt David down and kill him, regardless of who stands in their way.

Talon is able to cool down, but Edwinn remains upset at him over his reaction, eventually leaving. Marik remains behind, trying to make sure that Talon is okay, and mentioning their plans with Kester to find a link to incriminate Davian.

Edwinn heads to his room and speaks to his gauntlet, wanting to know where Davian is so he can end this. The gauntlet agrees but sends him down to the dungeons first, saying that there was someone that wanted to meet him. Edwinn heads off, with Cailynn following him unseen.

Down in the dungeons, Edwinn is greeted by an Archan, Voresh the Shepherd. He wears a similar gauntlet to Edwinn, and speaks of helping Edwinn to unlock its power, though says that they should experiment on a prisoner first. Edwinn refuses, turning to leave to go and find Davian. Voresh casts a spell but Cailynn starts to fight him. With the two siblings working together, Voresh retreats before Crownclaw knights arrive. They reveal the guards stationed here have been harmed and seem to be in an inert space.

They are escorted to Edwinn's room where Edwinn opens up about the history of the gauntlet. Cailynn encourages Edwinn to no longer use it, fearing that it will harm Edwinn like the dragon ritual is doing to Via. Edwinn only promises to try, tempted that the gauntlet can kill Davian. The two go to sleep and the gauntlet admits that it is impressed with Edwinn, along with letting him know the times that Davian is frequently alone.

Via performs her ritual that night, but finds that her skin seems to grow old, with liver spots and wrinkled skin. It's only when the ritual ends that she regains her youthful appearance. She tries to sleep that night, but the sound of flapping wings that never materializes stops her.

Marik heads to bed but wakes up knee deep in the coast of Seahaven. He is awoken by a fisherman and the two are able to escape before Sahaguine are able to attack them. Marik thanks the man and returns home, only for Talon to call a meeting.

In the meeting Davian speaks of the contestants, but after he leaves everyone opens up about their nights, with each heir having their own trial. Worried and scared for the future, the King's Hand wonder why all these events are happening simultaneously as these forces pull on each of them. They all turn and depart, ready to start the third trail of the Sentinel Festival.